Bruce Ciskie

Oh, you're right. What it does do is add to my frustrations. I've never been an admirer of Dave Bush, but it seems like the tone of this board when he has a bad outing is much different than it is when Capuano has a bad outing. Maybe it's a perception thing, because I'm not here every game. But that's what it seems to me. When Bush has a bad day, it's because he sucks. When Capuano has a bad outing, it's because the umpire sucks, or because Ned is stupid, or because he's injured and not telling anyone. (Evidence of the umpiring sucking is shown in this last at-bat with Holliday. Nothing like a guy who should be walking back to the dugout getting a chance to rake a solo home run.)

Capuano has had success going after guys. He's been gunshy, for some unknown reason, for the better part of the last year. I'd blame it on the shot to the leg this past April, but it was happening before that, too. Could I be a little hard on him? Sure. But the numbers don't lie. What happened to CV tonight is an aberration. What's been happening to Capuano has been nearly a yearlong trend. To me, there aren't any excuses left anymore. DM needs to move someone for a decent short relief arm to help out Turnbow and Cordero, because it doesn't seem like Wise can be relied on often enough. Once that happens, you flip one of your youngsters into the rotation. DM is talking on FSN right now and hinting that Balfour and Parra could be brought up for the bullpen, even though Parra is starting in the minors. Hey...another quality at-bat from the five-hole hitter. Get well, Bill.

Thanks. I knew someone would step up to the plate. If it's not Ned, it's the umpires. Though at least I'll give you credit for recognizing that it's time to get Villanueva in the rotation. Too bad you're apparently willing to keep giving Crapuano the ball, but there's still time to change your mind. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

For one, me. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/embarassed.gif (I think I did. Woulda been in April.) If Villaneuva isn't starting on Wednesday night, I'd have to think Ned is afraid to make the move, and your guess would be as good as mine as to why. How much more evidence do you need that Capuano needs to spend some time in the bullpen? As for the booing, I was happy to hear it. Maybe it'll jolt Capuano into knocking off the useless nibbling. Or maybe we need him sent to the bullpen before that'll happen. Frankly, I feel like I've been betrayed by Capuano lately. So if he feels betrayed, at least it's mutual. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

Because we're better off with the young guys in the pen so their arms don't fall off.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Capuano was ahead of both of those first two hitters with two-strike counts, right?

So what's the excuse going to be for this? Frankly, I'm tired of this crap. We have the slowest freaking manager in the game when it comes to making changes on the pitching staff. This guy has stunk out loud since May, and all we've heard are excuses. Maybe it's too muggy in Milwaukee today. Or perhaps the roof being open is letting in too much cool air. Is the retro uni too tight? Hat cutting off circulation to the brain, affecting his vision and ability to hit his spots? I know it's not all about winning RIGHT NOW, but it would be nice if the interests of the 2007 team were put ahead of the 2009 team, though I'm not sure how keeping Capuano in the rotation will benefit anything in 2009. Get him in the pen, Ned. He's had enough chances. He's screwed until he stops nibbling, and he's not ready to stop nibbling.

If he's healthy, I'd give him a couple weeks after the break, and if he doesn't start hitting, he goes down. Maybe that's where we make a deadline deal for an extra infielder, preferably one who can hit. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

Wow. They're 2 back of LA and even with the Wild Card in the loss column. Those odds REALLY stink given that situation.

Ned, why not just kick my dog while you're here? Capuano starts a game when every starter is rested and seemingly available. Even if you take Sheets off the "available" list, this is stupid.

Morneau hits four. Even if he thinks it was a subpar performance, at least he won't blame his pitcher, since it was Ron Gardenhire. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/happy.gif

I think most of the major sports have bounced around ideas on dealing with the "no one plays in the All-Star Game or takes part in the pre-All Star stuff" issue. I don't like the idea of fining guys who don't take part, but I don't like the way the Derby is going right now. As much as I don't like him, I would kill to see Bonds in this thing, and I'd love to see Griffey do it considering the year he's having. I think the major issues are pretty well laid out by Stark, who's one of the best on the planet. As long as he's around, I don't feel so uneasy about the day Gammons decides to walk away. Frankly, I'd love to see baseball find incentive for guys to take part in the Derby. It's good for the game. It would be better for the game if they'd find a way to shorten the stupid thing, because right now it runs ENTIRELY too long. Good luck, Prince!

Capuano has pitched 40 innings since May 13. He's allowed 53 hits and 33 runs (32 earned). But, yeah, he's throwing well. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/eyes.gif (EDITed numbers. They didn't include today's rock-solid, ace-like performance.)

I'd take Dave Bush any day over Capuano right now. While Bush has been busy racking up some pretty solid starts since the start of June, Capuano has stunk since the middle of May.

Don't forget Capuano. He's been stellar the last three months.

What was his excuse in that game at Miller Park against Minnesota? Or that start in Texas on June 8? How about that epic effort in May against the Mets? I know Yost is an easy target (sometimes guilty here), but this is downright ridiculous. The guy on the other side of the stadium threw 88 pitches in his third start of the major league season. He'd pitched 11 big-league innings in 2007 before today. If Tim Redding can handle the heat, then Capuano had better either stop lying about his health and go on the DL or figure out what the hell his problem is. It's been going on since May, and blaming it on his DL stint or heat or Ned just isn't cutting it anymore.

PITCHERS Sheets: A. How could it be anything else? Capuano: C+. I'm worried about what I saw from him before the injury. Suppan: C. A colossal waste of money, considering our young pitching depth, but at least he's a veteran who will help this team even on days he's not pitching. Bush: B-. I think he's better than his numbers, but he's no better than a fourth starter. Vargas: C+. Too many baserunners and too much nibbling. Gallardo: INC. I don't follow the minor leagues enough, and I have only seen two of his three starts. Villaneuva: A+. Unreal. Shouse: D. Not a fan. He doesn't get the lefties consistently enough, though I appreciate his rubber arm and his willingness to take the ball. Wise: B. A bit erratic in terms of his availability, but he's been good so far. Spurling: C. Fine. Not made for pressure situations, but fine. Turnbow: B+. Aggravating at times, but at no point has he been anywhere near as bad as he was last year. Cordero: A-. Shaky lately, but still a top-notch closer. BATS/DEFENSE Fielder: A+. Wow. Graffanino: C. Better lately, but a really bad start. Counsell: C. Steady. Good defense, and a better stick than I expected. Weeks: D. I know he was hurt, but he just hasn't been good. Hardy: B+. Let's not get too excited about his hot start, because he's been more and more human lately. Braun: A. Incredible out of the gates. I hope he keeps hitting, and his defense has been a pleasant surprise. Hart: A-. Stupid wrist. Imagine what his numbers would be if he were healthy and playing since Opening Day. Hall: B-. Really improving defensively, getting on base more effectively, and he runs well. Need MORE POWER. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/happy.gif Jenkins: B-. Hot start, not as impactful offensively as of late. Mench: C. Meh. Gross: D. Not all his fault, but he did nothing to merit extra playing time when he had chances. Now his at-bats and PT are so irregular that it's almost impossible to judge. But he gets marked down because he could have done more to earn playing time when Hart was injured/in the doghouse/whatever. Estrada: C. A bit of a defensive liability, but his hitting isn't awful. Miller: B-. Maybe I don't know the whole story, but it seems like he's been a real pro with diminished playing time. Much better backup catcher than Chad Moeller/Gary Bennett. Ugh. Can't stand the thought of those guys on this team. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/frown.gif MANAGER Ned: B. I actually think he's been better handling the bench and bullpen this year. Not only that, but he appears to have pretty much settled on a lineup. And for all his faults as a tactical manager, Yost has gotten the players to take on that "battler" mentality. Jokes aside about "battling", that's a good thing. The comeback against the Twins, even though it turned out to be a loss, is a shining example. IN HONOR OF JAYSON STARK, SOME TEAM AWARDS (not necessarily based solely on grades) Cy Young: Sheets Cy Yuk: Suppan (if only because of the money invested) MVP: Fielder LVP (LEAST Valuable Player): Capellan

Oh, crap. This means we all have to watch the All-Star Game and care who wins, doesn't it? http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/wink.gif

You don't have nearly enough faith, Russ. July 15, baby. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/happy.gif (Seriously, I'd pick the 19th if you backed me into a corner.)

There may already be a thread on this. If so, I apologize. I glanced through a few pages and didn't see anything, admittedly not looking thoroughly. Anyway, I'm wondering what, if any, games you guys think might be flexed to different time slots to accomodate TV. We already know that the July 21 San Francisco game was moved to 2:55pm to be on FOX. If FOX (Saturday) or ESPN (Sunday) want more Brewer games, I would think they'd look at the Philly series the first series of August, the return trip to San Francisco later in August, and series against San Diego and Atlanta in September. Anyone hear anything? Thoughts?

The Yankees still won't have a good-enough farm system to make that deal work. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/happy.gif

Hats off to the boys for this response. And to those who think this was a really important game today, I hope you're right. Because if you are, the division race just got wrapped up. Unfortunately, I still don't think this one's terribly important. It just feels really good. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

No bigger than today's, Sunday's, or the other seven we play before the break. Don't let yourself get caught up in stupid media hype about these games. They try to make them out to be bigger than they are, but they're not. Reality is that these games are more important to the Cubs, if for no other reason than the fact that there are only five games left between these two teams all season, so they can't even catch up by winning all the remaining H2H games. I learned a lesson after that no-hitter. I thought the next game was more important than it was. What made that game look important was the fashion in which we won, but it wasn't that important. Losses like this one are going to happen. Remember that ridiculous comeback in Minnesota? Yeah, we lost that game, but that kind of weird stuff happens.

As long as they're this far back, they can think what they want. We have practically no h2h with them after the break.

You're right. If the lead goes to 5.5 we might as well start selling off veterans and pack it in, because we won't have a shot.